Street-sweeping machine



(No Mdel.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 1,

A. BBRTBAM. STREET SWEBPING MACHINE.

Patentedeb..7,l893.

f hun! rus mums vmzns Co. FHoToALITumwAsnmG'rcN. D. C

2 'Sheeta-Shea isv 2.

(No Model.)

A, BERTRAM. ETEEET SWEEEING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 7, 1893,.

m1: Nonms vcrzns co., muvo-uma. WASHINGTON. u, l:A

Unirse SlT-trans nrnnr Ormes.

AUGUST SERTRAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE.

SXQECIFIOTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,278, dated February 7, 1898.

Application tiled August ll, 1891. Renewed August l, 1892. Serial No. 441,876. (No model.)

To ffl/Zi whom t may concern:

.Be it known that I, AUGUST BERTRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city ol. Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of lew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Sweeping Hachines, of which the following is a specification.

rllhis invention relates to street sweeping machines, and is designed for the purpose of performing the work in a thorough and expeditious manner, for lessening the number of hands usually employed in gathering and removing the sweepings, and thus economiaingin cost of the service.

To this end, my improved machine einbodies means for properly sweeping the gutter ou either side of the street as Well as a considerable portion of the center, the brooms being adjustable so as to adapt Vthem to the curve of the road from gutter to center,-as Well as to permit the machine to travel with the brooms clear of the roadway.

The machine also includes a receptacle for the sweepings which are automatically gathered up and deposited therein at proper intervals as the work proceeds-to be afterward dumped directly into a cart and drawn away. A sprinkling device is also provided for dampening the ground in front of the brooms wheneverthe nature of the dust may require it.

Certain novel details of construction, coinbinations and arrangements of parts and specific elements also forni important parts of my street sweeper which operate for the most part automatically and under control of only one man who also drives the horses.

All of the above features are thoroughly described in the following detailed description, having reference, however, to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

Similarletters an d figures of reference indicate like parts.

In said draivingsz-Figure l is a plan view of my street sweeping machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of saine with the near Wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line fr fr in Fig. l. Figs. s and 5 are respectively a side and plan view of my belt-shifting device.

Figs. G and 7 are details showing collecting and elevating troughsiu crosssection, tripping devices dto., in different positions. Fig. S is a detail showing relations of trough extension and side frame. Fig. 9 is a detail showing action of guard and collector-trough. Fig. lO is adiagrain illustrating sprinkling device.

A represents any suitable three-sided frame extending along the sides and front of the machine, and affording bearings or journals for the main axle B, which carries a pair of Wheels B B2, the main brush C, the pulleyshaft D, and certain sprocket-wheels, and also supporting a dust receptacle Zand other devices, as Will be hereinafter fully explained.

The main axle B is stationary and one Wheel B carries the driving gear Z), which meshes With another gear Zu', mounted ou a short shaft h2, supported from the frame and axleg-the saine shaft also carries a sprocket-wheel b3 an endless drive-chain b4 leading from this to a sprocket-wheel c, fixed on the shaft of the inaiu brush O. This latter shaft also carries sprocket-wheels c', c2, from which are endless chains O3 and O4 to engagement with sprocket-wheels fand f', these being mounted respectivelyv on inner ends of tWo side brushes F and F. The paths of these brushes are forward of and to the right and left, respectively, of the main central brush O, in such manner that they practically extend the path n being swept to double the width of that coveredv by the main brush, one side brush being generally used to sweep the gutter of the street, While the other may or may not be einployed at the same time to assist the main brush on the level. For this purpose these side brushes are made adjustable, as will be further described. The running-Wheel 132011 the other end of the axle and at the opposite end of the machine, carries a drum B3 around which pass belts 2, 2, (one being crossed) to pulleys 3, 3, and a (the latter being a loose pulley and preferably made in two sections to insure rapidity of operation, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and full lines in Fig. 5,) these pulleys being carried by the pulleyshaft D, near one end, which shaft is journaled in the upper parts of the side frames A, as shown. The shaft D has also fixed thereupon two sprocket-wheels D D', the same being located preferably just outside of the side TCO frames A,-and upon short spindles d, d, and cl', d', fixed in the side frames are mounted other sprocket wheels or pulleys D2, D2, and D3, D3, one pair at each side, and endless drive chains E, E', one at each side of the machine, pass around the wheels D', D2, D3, (one of each) and thence downward around pulleys, or sprocket wheels G G,carried loosely on spindles g, g, fixed on the lower forward part of the frame, one at each side.

Both of the endless chains are fixed by pins h to the end plates 7L of extensions h2, h2, of an elevator-trough II, which carries the sweepings to the dust receptacle Z, in such manner that at the proper intervals these chains will alternately raise and lower said trough. This elevator trough lies transversely of the maf chine, being about the same length as the main brush C, and the extensions h2 lying beyond the end plates proper of the trough, are forked as shown in the detail, Fig. S, so as to straddle the side frames A and allow said trough to come well down between and clear of such side frames, into position for receiving the sweepings.

The end plates h are provided with small rollers h3, which extend into grooves t', formed in guide-bars I, I, running upward from the front part of each side `frame A, in a rearwardly slanting direction to a junction with the extreme top parts of such frames the upper ends of such guide-bars being curved so as to permit the elevator trough Il to turn upside down and empty its contents into the receptacle Z.

Upon the endless chain E', (that nearest the pulleys 3, 3, and 4:) I fix, at a proper distance apart, two projecting pins e, e', adapted to strike alternately on each side as the chain moves in one direction or the other, against a projection 7c formed on the upper side of a bar K carried by and sliding in guide-sockets k', 7o', fixed upon the outer face of the side frame A. This bar K has a double bend near its middle so as to form a short incline 7a2 upon which will play two small rollers Z, Z, pinned to the belt-shifting bar L, which crosses the bar K at right angles, t', e, parallel to the pulley-shaftand has the usual fingers at its end for embracing the belts 2, 2

rlhe pulley D3 over which that part of the chain E', which carries the pins c, c', travel, is preferably grooved in thc center, as shown at c2 in Fig. 4, so that said projecting pins may not impinge thereupon.

The elevator trough ll, is fed or filled by a collector trough M, which lies normally just between the main brush C, and the elevator trough, its edge coming well under the front part of the brush and close to the ground. The end plates m, m, of the collector trough have short projecting pins m which act as supports for the trough and travel upon inclines m2 formed on the inner faces of the side frames A.

The collector trough is hung upon a .rod fn the ends of which play in slots a, a, formed in the side fra1nes,-these slots being slanted to about the same angle as the inclines m2, and each provided with a depression or pocket a', at its extreme upper end, into which the shaft n will drop and find a bearing upon which the collector trough can turn while emptying its contents into the elevator trough, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. The end plates m of the collector trough are extended for some distance beyond the shaft n, so as to form tripping-arms o, against which the endplates proper of the elevator trough II will strike as it assumes its lowest position, and thus turn the collecting trough M over into the position required for emptying the contents of the latter into the former. (See dotted lines, Fig. 6.)

Close to the side frames A at each side of the machine, the rod n carries one end of a curved or two-armed lever P, its other end or arm extending upward and being pivoted at p to one arm ot' a bell-crank shaped trip-lever Q, which is in turn pivoted to the side-frame, its other arm lying in position to be tripped by the descent of the elevator trough ll, and thus have the effect of raising and retiring the lever P, which in turn draws upon the rod n and collecto1,trough M, until said rod drops into the pockets of the slots d a, when the farther descent of the elevator-trough effects the turning over of the collecting-trough, as already described. p

Upon each of the extreme ends of the rod n, and outside of the frames A, A, is mounted a short link r, which is also pivoted to the lower end of another link or pin 7" which, normally, hangs vertically and is in turn pivoted to the side frame. In close proximity to the arm o", I pivot to the side frames, one at each side, short levers s which serve as end pieces for a swinging guard S, which extends across the machine immediately in front of the collector-trough H, so that its cross-bar (the guard proper) will closely approach the ground and encounter any obstacle, such as a stone, lying in the path of the collectortrough and main brush C, and by means of the upper ends of the short levers s, iinpinging upon the links or arms 1", whenever the obstacle is struck by the guard S, said collector-trough is raised and retired out of the way until the obstacle is passed. The operation is such as to cause the journals of the shaft or rod n to move upward in the slots a, a, and again move down when the guard S assumes its normal position. The above is clearly shown in the detail Fig. 9.

In order to prevent the sweepings from the main brush being projected beyond the collector-trough M, I hang a curtain M of tarpaulin or other suitable flexible material, upon a rod M2 extending between the side frames about in the same vertical line as the shaft a of the trougli,-such curtain serving to defleet the tiying sweepings downward into the trough.

The side brushes F and F are preferably IOO IIO

set slightly diagonal, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so as to direct their sweepings toward the center or into the path of the main brush C. They each revolve upon an axle f2 extending into a suitable internal sleeve]c3 for the greater portion of its length, and this axle forms rigid connection with an arm t of a hand-lever T pivoted at t to the front part of the frame A of the machine, the pivot point or fulcruxn being so situated to the -rear of the brush as to insure the lifting ol the brush in a vertical line, when it is desired to put the brush out of operation. The brush axles may have springs t2 on their inner ends with such play that the normal position of the brushes may be immediately regained after they have niet with any obstacle such as a projecting curbstone, and l preferably provide each side brush with a wearing plate or disk U, capable of revolving when the outer end ol' the brush may be rubbing against the curb-stone in sweeping a gutter; this wearing plate has a short spindle u entering the sleeve or bore et the brush, and is prevented from coming out by any suitable means such as a collar and groove as shown in the sectional part ot Fig. lu The side brushes are also provided at the front with detlectors o, uol' suitable curve to assist in directing the sweepings toward the center. These are preferably of metal with lower extensions of sheet rubber so that they may easily ride over stones and the like,-and are carried by a rod lu fixed to the axle f2, so that they may move with the brush as the same is raised and lowered by the handlever 'l1 This haud-lever is 'locked upon a suitable rack rl", mounted upon a front platform lV, extending forward fronrthe frame A. X is a suitable forward truck with two wheels, properly connected with said platform, and X is the drivers seat mounted thereupon. The main brush Gis also adjustable vertically, its axle playing in vertical slots ai in the side frames A,-such axle having links ci, connected to each end which again join bell-cranks c5 pivoted to the side frames, and the opposite arms of such bellcranks are connected with rods c which join a crossbar or rod c7 extending across the front of the machine. A suitable hand-lever c8 is fixed to this cross bar within reach of the driver, by pulling upon which he can raise the main brush clear of the ground. By means of a suitable rack not shown said lever may be locked. Upon the end of the saine cross-bar cT I mount a rod y which extends along` the side ot the machine toward the rear where it joins a short arm y pivoted to the frame and carrying a roller i 2 adapted "to inipinge against and tighten up the belts 2, 2, when the machine is sweeping, and to be thrown off when the brush is raised and the machine putoutot work. The one movement of the hand lever cS thuseliects the two purposes.

The dust receptacle Z is braced between the framing of the machine in anysuitable manner, not shown ,-and is provided with a slanting bottom e, and a hinged door Z having any suitable fastening device-the height of said receptacle being preferably such as will allow a cart to be conveniently backed underneath.

At any convenient height and in any suitable position within the framing A, l may locate a water tank Y, from which pipes and branches 5, 6, 7, 8 lead to the fronts ot the inain and side brushes, and provide the same with asuitable cock 9, in control of the driver, as Seen in Fig. lO.` The sprinkling device thus provided is specially intended for use whenever the dust of the road is exceptionally dry and liable to be blown about,but water may always be turned on at the discretion of the driver.

The operation of my improved street-sweeping machine is as folloWs:-'l`he different hand-levers having been released, allowing the brushes to rest upon the ground, and the belt-tightener thrown into contact with the belts 2, 2, the horses are started andthe Wheels B', B2, commence to revolve and communicate motion tothe main brush C, through the gears b and b', sprocket wheels b3 and c, and endless chain b4, and said main brush driving the side brushes F, F, by the chains and sprocket wheels described. Simultaneously motion is communicated to the pulleys 3, 3, by the belts 2, 2, from the drum B3, and the pulley shaft D revolves and through its sprocket wheels D", D', causes the chains E, E, to travel. The elevator trough ll heilig properly at the top end of the ways I when the machine was stopped, and the belts having been lel't on the pulleys in the position which brought such elevator to that point, the projection e on the chain E will soon strike against the stop 7.: on the sliding bar K and by causing the inclined portion 7a2 to travel between the rollers Z, Z, on the belt-shifter L, so moves the latter as to immediately transfer the belts to the reverse pulleys, and the chains will travel until the elevator trough is brought down to position in front of the collector trough, and through the tripping mechanism described receives the sweepings meanwhile swept into such trough M by the main brush. lVhen this is accomplished the chain E Willhave traveled far enough for the other projection c to strike the stop 7a on the opposite side andv move the bar K, and belt shifter L in the other direction to reverse the position of the belts with relation to the pulleys, that is to say, effects the transfer of the crossed belt from the loose pulley to a tast pulley, and the straight belt from the latter to the former, or vice versa, and thus reverses the motion of the pulley shaft, its Sprocket wheels, and the chains E, E', and these latter pull the elevan tors up to the top of the guides l. lt there empties its contents into the receptacle Z, and the brushes keep on sweeping until. the belts IOO are again reversed and the elevator trough again arrives at the bottom of its travel to receive another load from the collector.

IVhile the devices and arrangements above described in detail go to make up an operative machine of simple construction, I Wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction or arrangement set forth,-as I may considerably vary the details and substitute equivalent elements and combinations of Working parts Without departing from the principles or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

Vhat I claim is as follows:

l. In a street sweeping machine, the combination With a pair of wheels and a suitable frame, of a revolving brush or broom, a collecting trough'arranged in front of said brush or broom adapted to receive the sweepings directly therefrom, an elevating-trough adj acent to said collecting-trough and fed by same, and a receptacle into which said elevating trough dumps its load, all arranged substantially in the manner specified.

2. The combination with the collecting trough, of a yielding guard located in front of same, and connections between said guard and trough, whereby the trough is automatically raised clcar of any obstruction met Wit-h by the guard, substantially as described.

The combination with the side brush F having internal sleeve f3 and axle f2, o'l' the hand lever T, pivoted to the frame and in rigid connection with said axle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4t. The combination with the side brush and its axle, of the bar or rod o and deflectors o, i, for the purpose described.

5. The combination with the Wheel B2, hav ing drum B3 and frames A, A, of the pulley shaft D, pulleys 3, 3, and 4C, and sprocket wheels D', D', mounted thereon, belts 2, 2, between said drum and pulleys, chains E and E', and suitable guiding pulleys therefor, pulleys or sprocket wheels g, (j, elevating trough II, Ways or guides I, and connections between said trough and the chains, all combined and arranged so that said elevating trough may be automatically raised and lowered in said ways or guides at proper intervals, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

(3. 'lhe combination with the side frames A, having slots a, formed as described, and inclines m2, of the rod n, collecting trough M, having projecting pins m and tripping arms O, pivoted lever P, bell-crank trip lever Q, and the elevating trough Il, all combined and arranged so that at each descent of the elevating trough the collecting trough Will be raised and its contents emptied into such elevating trough, substantially in the manner described.

7. The combination with the belts 2, 2, of the tightening device consisting of roller y2, rod y', cross-bar c7, and hand lever o8, said cross-bar and hand levell being also used for adjusting the main brush, as described.

8. rlhe combination with the pulleys on the pulley shaft and with the belts and the chain E", having projecting pins e and c', of the belt-shifting device consisting of sliding bar K, having incline 7.52 and projection h and bar L, engaging the belts and having rollers Z, Z, impinging upon said incline, substantially in the manner set forth.

9. The combination With the side or gutter brush having internal sleeve f3 of the Wearing plate or disk U, having spindle u entering said sleeve, and means for retaining same loosely, arranged so that said Wearing plate may revolve, and act as a fender for the gutter brush, substantially as set forth.

lO. The combination with the said frames A, A, main brush C, and the collector-trough M, of the curtain M and its rod M2, for the purpose described.

AUGUST BERTRAM.

\Vitnesses:

Rohr. A. KELLOND, JAS. A. IAroN. 

